Allow us to get your week on track, PlayStation.Blog readers. SOUNDtrack, that is. SIGNED soundtrack, even. That’s right, we’ve got 10 soundtracks graced by the pen/magic marker/writing instrument of one Shoji Meguro, master composer of games like Persona 3 and Persona 4, and we’re giving them away. Here. Just to you folks.
“How do I enter?” you inquire, leaning forward in excitement. Easy! Just tell us what you’re most excited about regarding the upcoming P3P as a comment under this post. Maybe it’s the fact that you can take one of the highest rated RPGs of all time on the road now? Or the cast of memorable characters you just can’t get enough of? Or the dating sim elements? The fantastic music? The great art? The addicting gameplay? The original story?
10 lucky winners will be randomly (or as close to randomly as possible) chosen and sent a SIGNED soundtrack CD. Only North American residents are eligible to win, however. It’s not that we don’t love you rest-of-the-world’ers; we just want to focus this giveaway on the region in which the game is actually releasing.
Why are we doing this? Well, we’d love to use this opportunity to remind you that:
- a) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable, Atlus’s upcoming handheld RPG epic, is right around the corner, releasing in stores and via PlayStation Network on July 6th.
- b) It features one of the best soundtracks ever, and in order to further emphasize that point, we want to give a few of those soundtracks away. SIGNED.
In case you all are a bit unfamiliar with the P3P soundtrack, perhaps we should share a sample with you:
[audio:https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/05_Wiping-All-Out_short-3.mp3]
For more music samples, visit the official Persona 3 Portable website!
“The music seems awesome,” you say, pensively prodding your chin with your finger, “but I’m not guaranteed to win it. I just wish there was some cool bonus with Persona 3 Portable that I was guaranteed to receive.”
Funny you’d say that, because there’s still time to pre-order your copy of Persona 3 Portable at a participating retailer (GameStop and Amazon in the United States and Canada) and receive a collectible Junpei Baseball Cap. It’s modeled after the one he wears in the game!
“Wow, they’re sure giving us a lot of physical awesome to celebrate the release of the game, but what about the game itself?” you muse aloud to no one in particular, gently tapping your pointer fingers together in front of your mouth.
We’ve already told you in previous posts about how Persona 3 Portable puts you in the shoes of a team of gifted high schoolers forced to use their developing supernatural abilities to save the world from destruction, and how the game cleverly mixes addicting RPG dungeon crawling with social sim elements. And how the PSP system release introduces a new female protagonist who experiences the events of the game from a new perspective, not to mention the addition of one-button menu shortcuts, a streamlined user interface, and more.
We’d say more about the game, but really, why not let others speak for us? Early reviews are in, Blog readers, and they’re glowing:
Gaming Nexus – A
“Atlus added enough new content to make this the first must-own PSP RPG of the year!”Gamervision – 10 out of 10
“Persona 3 Portable is one of the strongest games in the PSP catalogue, and a shining example of a role-playing game done right.”GamerTell – 99 out of 100
“Simply said, Persona 3 Portable is a system seller. If you own a PSP and can purchase “Mature” games, you should own it. If you don’t own a PSP, Persona 3 Portable is easily a game to inspire you to pick one up.”PlayStation Illustrated – 95 out of 100
“It’s a fantastic RPG stuffed with things to do and interesting, yet unusual, ideas.”1UP.com – A-
“I’d actually recommend Persona 3 Portable as the best introduction to the series — even ahead of the console versions of Persona 3 or Persona 4. But I’d also highly recommend P3P for longtime fans of the franchise…”gamrReview by VGChartz – 9 out of 10
“PSP fans can rejoice that such a grand RPG has arrived on their system of choice…”GameZone 8.5 out of 10
“…a solid version of a great RPG.”
Look for Persona 3 Portable on retail shelves and in PSN Store on July 6, 2010! For more info about P3P, visit the game’s official website.
Don’t forget: What about the upcoming Persona 3 Portable are you most looking forward to? Tell us below for a chance to win a SIGNED soundtrack CD! We’ll try and choose winners by the game’s release date (winners will be notified with a message sent to their PSN account).
I’m interested in just the overall tweaks to the game especially the story. Which while I loved the original game I was disappointed with what happened to the narrative when Fes was released (the whole “The Answer” part) and since I’ve heard that that is completely gone now it seems like I’ll have everything I want out of P3 and more, but on the go.
I am looking forward to being able to take this anywhere! Finally a way to play this fantastic game whenever, wherever I want.
This is going to be my first Shin Megami Tensei game. Really looking forward to finally getting into this series. This game looks incredibly deep and satisfying. Hope it lives up to my expectations.
I’m excited about the release of Persona 3 on the PSP because, as with all my 2nd/3rd playthroughs of RPGs, I really get to get deep into the gameplay and story.
I’m looking forward to being able to take Persona with me as I max out every social link and beat all bosses possible on the first playthrough.
It will also be nice to be able to control all the party members. The inability to walk around environments besides Tartarus is a small price to pay to have this excellent game be portable.
What’s not to like? One of the best Console RPG/Dungeon Crawl ever made, portable with addition of female lead..I’m excited because my Ex Wife got my copy of P3FES from the divorce settlement, AND she took my PS2 so finally I will get my beloved Persona game back where it belongs! WAAAHOOOOOO!!! P3P FOREVER ! =)
Happy this coming out soon, and not a moment too late.
Like most people, looking forward to the female protagonist and the alternate social links for her side, as well as the new combat features added in. Shame, I probably won’t get to clock in hundred or so hours due to having to study for school, but I’m looking forward to wearing this game out as much as possible.
I own both the original Persona 3 and FES, and will be getting P3P as well. All the changes are exciting, but I’m most looking forward to playing as a girl and seeing the new social links. I really like the option to play as a character of my own gender, so I hope to see more female protagonists in SMT games in the future.
I can’t wait to hear the freaking awesome music on the go. Shoji Meguro is truly a masterful composer.
I have three main reasons for being excited for Persona 3 Portable:
(1) Persona 3 is, in fact, the JRPG that taught me I could love a JRPG. After years of trying (and failing) to enjoy any role playing game from the East, Persona 3 shows up and keeps me locked in its kung-fu grip of awesome for 130 hours (that is not an exaggeration).
(2) Persona 3 Portable takes some of the improvements from Persona 4 and applies them to the game I loved regardless. Among others, the ability to control each party member instead of relying on the (generally capable) AI – allowing deeper strategy and greater freedom.
(3) The addition of a choice in protagonist (male or female) will put a subtle new spin on every relationship in the game! And, if you know Persona, you know that half the game is getting to know people, helping people, hearing their stories and – perhaps – falling in love.
What’s that, Junpei? You want to take me out for takoyaki? I’d love to, but I can’t – I have plans with Akihiko-sempai.
I’m most excited about the best Persona story combined with the best Persona gameplay.
Also the playing through as a female character. Seeing the game from a slightly different perspective would be schweet!
Most excited about seeing the different S.links, especially Aigis
I beat Persona 4 on summer vacations, and I think it is the best RPG I’ve ever played.
I am looking forward to get Persona 3 on my PSP.
And I love the soundtrack, Meguro-san did a great job there =]
I’ve never had the opportunity to play a Persona game before, but I’ve heard a lot of great things about the series. I’ve been looking for a new RPG for my PSP for a while now, can’t wait to pick this game up!
man, I bought persona 3 fes last year and (when I picked up a ps2 after buying a ps3) and I only touched the game for a few hours as I read about the psp announcment. I have been waiting ever since to get back into that game, but want to play it on psp instead. I can’t wait for this!!
Hey Atlus, how about a SMT HD collection with trohpies for the PS3? Include SMT:Nocturen and the 2 devil saga games in one pacakge, and devil summoner 1 and 2 and persona 3 and 4 in the other. I know many people would buy them day 1.
I played Persona 3 after having first played and beaten Persona 4, and while P3 was an awesome game, I had to agree that P4 had fixed a few issues with the system (primarily, the option to directly control your teammates in battle). I was glad to see that P3 Portable fixed this (and a few other things), but better than just a port/remake, P3P has a whole new story and set of social links if you choose to play as a female protagonist!
I have been excited about this game ever since it was first announced, and will likely be first in line to buy it Tuesday!
When I first saw the opening to Persona 3, “Burn My Dread” on Youtube, I knew, at that moment, I NEEDED this game. It’s like, it hypnotized me. But when the game was released, I was going through financially hard times, I no longer had a PS2, and even if I did there was no time or money to play the game. A year or two later, a friend purchased P3: FES and I I quickly asked to borrow a PS2 and the game just to play it. Problem was, I only had it for 2 weeks before my friend had to leave for the Air Force, and in that time, I barely scratched the surface of the game. Being a freelance artist, it left me with little time to enjoy it. As much as I love my console games, I don’t have much time to sit and play them anymore. But I do travel alot, and I’ve planned to finally buy a PSP because there are enough games I want on it, and the deciding factor of needing it RIGHT NOW, was discovering this game was being released. I plan on it being the first game I get for my new PSP, and I just know, I’ll love every second of it.
The thing that I’m looking forward to in this game is the ability to play the story as the female protagonist (who I’m naming as Hamiko) and being able to play a completely different story because of it. It shall be awesome!
I’m excited to finally be able to date some of the male members of the cast (I only wish you could do so from the male protagonist’s perspective…) as well as to see how different the story is from the female protagonist’s perspective.
can’t wait! P3 was the last great RPG in the last decade. not one game from the next gen system came near the great game play and story p3 had. with P3P coming now we get it on the go
I love both the portable aspect as well as the opportunity to experience the game all over again from a new perspective.
I can’t wait!
AHHH!!!! I’m psyched for SO many reasons!!
I like P3’s system the best!
Shigenori Soejima is my favorite character designer! More excuses to own more of his design work!
I lost my PS2 memory card with 80 or so hours of P3 sunk into it :-( Now I can play it everywhere!!!!
My favorite game soundtrack ever! I was/am still sooooo obsessed with “Burn My Dread”. I listened to it on Repeat 1 when I got the PS2 version. I still repeat it now too!
I own a PSP!
Persona 3 is not only my favorite RPG, but the only turn-based system I like!
And tons of other reasons!
<3<3<3 I am SO EXCITED!!!
The best feature for me is the most obvious: it is portable. I’ll probably play it so many times that my eyes will bleed… Also, blowing my brains out may be even more fun on the go!! >:)
I played Persona 4 last year, after hearing it was a sweet RPG from a friend and THE INTERNET. 80 hours later, I’m sitting here happy to say it is my number 1 RPG of all time (just above Super Mario RPG).
I recently started playing Persona 3 on the PS2, but had a hard time adjusting to certain quality of life things I’d grown accustomed to in P4 (such as fast travel or controlling my teammates). Hearing that those things are “fixed” in P3P, I am obviously VERY EAGER to get my grubby hands on this!
I’ve been looking forward to P3P for a since announced and preordered it as soon as possible. I love the entire SMT series and own all of the PS2 releases. Another reason I’m looking forward to the release is I’m getting my wisdom teeth pulled on Friday so P3P is coming out at the perfect time for me to get my mind off some minor pain.
I’m looking forward to Burning My Dread yet again, this time on the go. Now I can Burn My Dread in the car, on the bus, while I walk, while I watch TV, anytime is Dread Burning Time now.
Looking forward to the new S.Links
What am I most looking forward to? I don’t think I’ll be able to fit it all in one comment, there’s just so much…
Well, pretty much everything! Persona 3 is possibly the best game ever made ever, second MAYBE to Persona 4. MAYBE. The fact that it’s coming to the PSP (and in the States, too!) just makes it that much better. I’m literally frothing at the mouth just thinking about! I seriously can’t wait.
The fact that you can choose to be female this time around (great for all the lady players out there~) is very nice, but the fact that it’s more than an aesthetic change makes it fantastic! The new difficulties are what I’m really excited for. On top of that, I hear the gameplay’s going to be a lot more like Persona 4’s. It’s going to be so awesome!
And the fact that I can take it wherever I go on my PSP is fabulous. Road trips, a quick picnic outside, a friend’s house, the bathroom – nowhere is safe from me playing what will be the best game in existence. It’ll be especially awesome if I can play while jamming to the soundtrack, especially if it’s a signed copy (if you get my hint…)! Nothing can beat playing Persona 3 again, except for playing its delicious remake on the PSP~!
I would love to win the signed copy of the soundtrack!! I just love Shoji Meguro’s music! Earlier this year he gave us one of his best works ever with Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey!
I have most of the Persona soundtracks on my iPod and I even imported the live DVD Persona Live Music, which I love!! This soundtrack would be the ULTIMATE item in my collection.
Please? ;_;
P.S. : This will be my third purchase of Persona 3. My girlfriend doesn’t understand why o.o’
I’m looking forward to spending hours fusing different demons together and creating interesting demon/skill combinations…
I’m excited about the shorter loading times and portability. The female protagonist is nice but those two things were what won me over.
HAL9000
;)
I’m excited to be able to carry Persona 3 Portable with me after playing both Persona 3 and Persona 3:FES. I love the sound track, when I listen to it I find myself humming out loud to the tune to this and all the other Persona games. It’s going to be fun playing this on campus and having my anime loving friends look over and ask what I’m playing and I can lower my hat and say Persona 3 on the PSP. That and I can take it with me without fearing my PS2 version getting stolen.
This game makes me glad I still own my PSP. I went from not knowing about Persona to having the series as a whole be my number 1 favorite in a matter of minutes. The games are just incredible, being able to suck you into the world (in P4’s terms, quite literally) very fast. The characters are amongst some of the best, if not the best, in video games. The music’s continuity over the series is nothing short of amazing, with everything blending in perfectly. I have the game preordered (wearing my Junpei hat FTW) and will probably pick up this soundtrack regardless of if I win a signed copy, but as a musician-turned-game-developer (in training, still in college) I’d love to keep it as inspiration in both fields.
Bring on July 6th!
I’m excited about being able to play on the go.
I’m really excited about Persona 3 on the Sony’s PSP because there’s nothing worth more than a life changing game on the go. Not only its new music created by “Kami-sama” composer Shoji Meguro it enriches its story and gameplay to boot! With Sony it’s all about exclusive content and never in the world could you experience Persona 3 better than ever on Sony’s own Playstation Portable.
Persona 3 FES was pretty much the last huge JRPG that really, and I mean REALLY, grabbed a hold of me. No JRPG since has come close to this. I was so invested in the world and the characters and getting the social links to practically unhealthy levels.
It’ll be great to take that obsession with me anywhere. I mean, what else am I going to do on campus? Study? Pfft.
I’m really looking forward to getting a new perspective on the social links by playing as the Female protagonist. I already played through the original and FES’s the Answer, so I’m hoping that the female protagonist shakes up the story.
Persona 3 and Persona 4 have become some of my favourite games ever for several reasons: fantastic music and art direction, engrossing storylines, great, great character interactions, etc. These games make me feel like I’m finally living the fun high school life I’ve never had. I’m certain that P3P will become one of my favourite games as well, for all the aforementioned reasons, plus the fact that I will now be able to play it everywhere I go!
I hope whoever is on here has played before. But, on the off chance that they haven’t, I guess I shouldn’t really name names.
They reason I am excited about P3P is, and I hope to god this isn’t some incorrect rumor, the ability to save someone that had died in the PS2 version. He was one the characters I absolutely adored. The chance to save him is an opportunity that I can not pass up.
On the off chance that the above is just a rumor, then the other thing I am excited about is the option to use a female protagonists. Not to mention all the new social links that come along with it. :3
I’m really excited for it due to the new main characters scenario. As well as just being a big fan of the series as a whole.
Thanks Atlus for always bringing over such top notch titles!
I am extremely excited about this game because of the music. I hold Atlus game’s soundtracks in high regard. Persona does not disappoint.
I’m excited about the game because I want to support any Persona ports on the PSP in hopes that Atlus will finally give us an American release of the complete Persona 2 on the PSP in the U.S. :D
I look forward to a retelling of one of my absolute favorite games of all time. A new main character adds a completely different way for the story to play out and evolve. New relationships, dialogue scenes, and new ways for the events to unfold all add to what is already a story that stands out amongst almost every other game I’ve ever played. It is supported by a cast that is down to Earth, and easy to relate to which only serves to help enhance the story.
Smooth but challenging gameplay, a marvelous story, and a soundtrack that was so diverse with everything from J-Pop and Heavy Rock music that made me almost stop playing just to listen to the music (which I did on multiple occasions). The latest additions to the already masterful soundtrack Meguro-Sensei (yes, I’ll go there) created are just as wonderful as what he already composed for P3, FES, and P4. These games were the first with soundtracks so good I was willing to listen to outside of the game, and not care what looks I would get from my friends when told what it was.
Besides the fact that my favourite game of all time has been expanded yet again, you mean? Well, the female MC’s route opens up a lot more of the male characters’ backstories through their Social Links. I love the P3 ladies, but it’s going to be really awesome to learn more about the guys, too. And as much as I love my consoles, I’m going to be on the road a lot this summer visiting colleges and such, and the fact that I can take P3P with me means that I can spaz with my fellow P3-fans over how awesome it is as soon as it comes out.
*AND* I get to play with the cutest female MC ever, how’s that for wrapping up a good deal? ♥
I’m defiantly ready to play one of my favorite rpgs for the third time whenever and wherever I want. The hat is pretty sweet as well. Atlus FTW!!! Keep up the work guys.
Why am I most excited? I love the idea of Atlus finding some way to put even more content in an already 80 hour game!
*cracks knuckles*
You shant be disappointed, wethinks.